Another Test

Di Renjie soon found the servant's body. His face had turned black, clearly indicating that he had died from poison.

Di Renjie crouched down and carefully examined the body, inspecting the wound and the lingering scent of poison.

After examining him, Di Renjie said, "He was bitten by a venomous snake. That much is certain. Has anything like this happened before?"

The garden steward beside him replied, "Reporting to you, my lord, never. I've been in this garden for so long, yet I've never even seen what a venomous snake looks like."

Di Renjie said, "Just as I thought. Yuanfang, you said he fell in front of the eastern latrine?"

Li Yuanfang said, "Yes."

Di Renjie continued, "Which way was his head facing?"

Li Yuanfang thought back for a moment. "Toward the eastern latrine door."

Di Renjie considered this. "Then that means he was bitten to death before entering the eastern latrine."

Li Yuanfang nodded. "That should be the case."

Di Renjie said, "That is strange. Under normal circumstances, a venomous snake's bite wound should be on the heel, lower leg, or at most the thigh. Snakes have no waists; they cannot leap high into the air to attack like tigers, leopards, or dogs. Yet look at this servant. His wound is actually on his throat."

Li Yuanfang asked in confusion, "What do you mean, my lord?"

Di Renjie did not answer. Instead, he ordered the servants nearby to carry the body away.

Once no one else was around, Di Renjie continued his explanation. "Yuanfang, there is only one explanation for this. The venomous snake was coiled on a beam in the eastern latrine. Disturbed by the servant, it attacked from above."

Li Yuanfang suddenly understood. "My lord, that makes sense!"

Di Renjie smiled. "It makes no sense."

Li Yuanfang